[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 200 (Wednesday, October 17, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58901-58902]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-5104]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The National Science Foundation (NSF) has submitted the 
following information collection requirement to OMB for review and 
clearance under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Pub. L. 104-13. 
This is the second notice for public comment; the first was published 
in the Federal Register at 72 FR 11912, and no comments were received. 
NSF is forwarding the proposed renewal submission to the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) for clearance simultaneously with the 
publication of this second notice. The full submission may be found at: 
http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Comments regarding (a) 
whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper 
performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the 
information will have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the 
agency's estimate of burden including the validity of the methodology 
and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility and 
clarity of the information to be collected or (d) ways to minimize the 
burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, 
including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, 
mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms 
of information technology should be addressed to: Office of Information 
and Regulatory Affairs of OMB, Attention: Desk Officer for National 
Science Foundation, 725-17th Street, NW., Room 10235, Washington, DC 
20503, and to Suzanne Plimpton, Reports Clearance Officer, National 
Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 295, Arlington, 
Virginia 22230 or send e-mail to [email protected]. Comments regarding 
these information collections are best assured of having their full 
effect if received within 30 days of this notification. Copies of the 
submission(s) may be obtained by calling 703-292-7556.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Suzanne Plimpton at (703) 292-7556 or 
send e-mail to [email protected]. Individuals who use a 
telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal 
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 between 8 a.m. and 8 
p.m., Eastern time, Monday through Friday.
    NSF may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless 
the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB control 
number and the agency informs potential persons who are to respond to 
the collection of information that such persons are not required to 
respond to the collection of information unless it displays a currently 
valid OMB control number.
    Title of Collection: Evaluation of the Historically Black Colleges 
and Universities Undergraduate Program.
    OMB Control No.: 3145-0204.
    Abstract: The National Science Foundation (NSF) requests revision 
and extension of a currently approved data collection (e.g., 
interviews, surveys, focus groups, site visits protocols) measuring 
NSF's contribution to the Nation's Historically Black Colleges and 
Universities (HBCU) enterprise and overall science and engineering 
workforce. This continuation expands

[[Page 58902]]

the data collection most recently approved through October 2009 (OMB 
3145-0204) beyond the student respondents to administrators, faculty 
and other participants, observers, or beneficiaries in undergraduate 
programs in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) at 
Historically Black Colleges and Universities. NSF is reissuing this 
notice because the first notice did not make clear that there would be 
both individual and institutional respondents to these data 
collections.
    NSF funds a program, called Historically Black Colleges and 
Universities Undergraduate Program (HBCU-UP), designed to help 
institutions strengthen the quality of their undergraduate STEM 
programs. For more information about HBCU-UP please visit the NSF Web 
site at: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5481&org=HRD&from=home.
    The Urban Institute (UI) is conducting an evaluation of the HBCU-UP 
program which received initial approval from the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) on 31 October 2006.
    Using a multiple-methods approach, UI researchers are conducting an 
evaluation to study the effectiveness of the program. The evaluation 
will include both process and summative components. The process 
component will document how different models within the Program are 
being implemented, thus helping evaluators to link strategies to 
outcomes, identify crucial components of different models, and 
contribute to the construction of general theories to guide future 
initiatives to increase the diversity of the STEM workforce. The 
summative component of the evaluation will focus on the extent to which 
the Program has produced outcomes that meet stated goals for students, 
faculty and institutions. The process evaluation relies mainly on 
qualitative data collected during case study site visits and 
interviews; the summative evaluation will rely primarily on data 
collected through a survey of graduates and faculty.
    NSF uses the UI analysis to prepare and publish reports and to 
respond to requests from Committees of Visitors, Congress and the 
Office of Management and Budget, particularly as related to the 
Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) and the Program 
Effectiveness Rating Tool (PART). The HBCU-UP study's broad questions 
include but are not limited to:
    What do individuals following post-participation in HBCU-UP or 
other NSF-funded undergraduate education opportunities do? Do HBCU-UP 
or other NSF-funded opportunities provide graduates with the 
professional and/or research skills needed to work in science and 
engineering? ARE HBCU-UP or other NSF-sponsored students and faculty 
satisfied that their NSF-funded experience advanced their careers in 
science or engineering? to what extent do HBCU-UP or other former-NSF-
sponsored graduates engage in the science and engineering workforce 
conduct inter- or multi-disciplinary science? Is there evidence of a 
legacy from NSF-funding that changed a degree-granting department 
beyond number of students supported and degrees awarded? To what extent 
have projects achieved or contributed to individual project goals or 
the NSF program goals? To what extent have NSF-funded projects or 
programs broadened participation by diverse individuals, particularly 
individuals traditionally underemployed in science or engineering, 
including but not limited to women, minorities, and persons-with-
disabilities?
    Respondents: Individuals or households, not-for-profit 
institutions, business or other for profit, and Federal, State, Local 
or Tribal Government
    Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: 4,155 (total).
    Burden on the Public: 1,074 hours.

    Dated: October 11, 2007.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 07-5104 Filed 10-16-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-M